Official summary: "For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within. Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires. To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news ... or worse." (http://morganvillevampire.com/)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $15.29 from Walmart using a giftcard I got for my birthday.

My commentary: I've really loved this series, but it's starting to get a little old. This book was pretty good, but it had some parts that just kept dragging on and on. The first eight books in the series were about half the size of this book, and I think I actually preferred the smaller books because Caine's writing just seemed tighter without as much fluff as this book. This book did have some surprises that kept things interesting overall, making me glad I've continued with the series. But at the same time, I do think it's a good thing that the series is supposed to end soon.

Memorable quotes:

"If you'd become a vampire, you'd have so much more potential." ~ Myrnin to Claire

"Ah, Morganville. Where dressing to hide bloodstains was just good daily planning." ~ Claire

"Apparently, prejudices didn't die, even when people died." ~ Claire

"Wow. Who turned you into the Green-Eyed Monster? And don't tell me you got bitten by a radioactive spider. There's no superhero of jealousy." ~ Shane to Claire

"Guess what? Payback's a bitch. And so am I." ~ Monica

"Really? That's what creeps you out. Waxing. You can take on vampires and draug and killers, but you're afraid of a little chest-hair pulling?" ~ Claire"Yes because I am sane." ~ Shane

"Shane, the closest you ever got to the Boy Scouts was when that whole troop of them beat you up in the fourth grade." ~ Eve"Be fair -- they were Brownies, and those girls were soccer-trained. Mean kickers." ~ Shane

"You have an impressive amount of crazy in that head." ~ Eve to Claire

"Don't play at word games with me. I was a master of it before your country even existed." ~ Myrnin to Claire

"Morganville lately had seemed exasperating, a broken toy that would never be put right no matter how much time and love I lavished on the repairs." ~ Amelie

"In an insane world, sanity made very little sense." ~ Myrnin

"You're not a killer. Fangs aside, I know you, man. You've got a nice-guy streak a mile wide. Now me ... Me, I'm more of a 'Welcome to the dark side' kind of person." ~ Shane to Michael

"It's not our fault you have more baggage than an airport at Christmas." ~ Claire to Monica

"The Apocalypse must be near, because a guy is arguing against grilling. That's just un-Texan, Michael." ~ Claire

"Could you maybe not admire the evil enemy quite so much, and focus more on how we're going to get out of this? Because I'm pretty sure we're going to die, too." ~ Claire to Myrnin

"My, if I didn't loathe her so much, I'd admire her." ~ Myrnin about Naomi

Official summary: "Her wiles are irresistible. Her hunger... insatiable. A reluctant vampire, Eleisha Clevon has made a home for herself and other vampires in Portland, Oregon. Despite the risks, she is determined to locate all vampires who still reside in isolation so she can offer them sanctuary and, more important, so she can teach them to feed without killing. She is shocked when she learns that a lost vampire may be living as close as Denver — and she has to handle this one more carefully than any she has ever approached. Simone Straford is a beautiful, delicate-looking creature from the roaring twenties who enjoys playing elaborate games with mortals, stoking their passion for her before finally draining them of their blood. When Eleisha and her protector, Philip Branté, go to Denver to search for Simone, what they find is far worse — and more seductive — than either one bargained for." (http://www.barbhendee.org)

My commentary: I'm so glad I found this series. I'm going to start recommending it to everyone who likes vampire stories... especially vampire stories that don't include the cheesy erotic scenes that some series have.

Official summary: "You are not alone. There are others like you. When she reads those words, Eleisha Clevon knows she has to respond to the vampire Rose de Spenser's letter. Both reluctant predators, they venture outside only when the hunger becomes unbearable — and feel guilty when ending human lives. But Eleisha has learned a way to draw blood from her victims without killing them. She wants to share this knowledge with like-minded vampires and forge a united front against Julian Ashton, a vampire who preys on his own kind. To win Rose to her cause, Eleisha must risk meeting her face-to-face, knowing full well she might be an agent of Julian's — but never expecting the revelations Rose has to share about Eleisha's own vampire origins." (http://www.barbhendee.org)

Official summary: "For ages, they have lived among mortals, in the shadows, hiding their true selves from the eyes of humanity — until now. Eleisha Clevon is no angel, although she has the face of one. A vampire, she's far older than she looks — and she makes men yearn to care for her. A few even survive the experience. Eleisha might not like to kill, but she knows self-preservation must come first. So when an old vampire friend kills himself, Eleisha is shocked. What she finds afterward shows how world-weary he had become — hoarding drained corpses and keeping records of vampires' actual names and addresses. Now the police know who Eleisha is and, more alarmingly, what she is. But she soon realizes that being known may have its pros — even if it puts her and her kind at risk." (http://www.barbhendee.org)

How I obtained the book: Bought for $1.34 at Barnes & Noble

My commentary: I only bought this book because I found it so cheap one day when I was looking at the clearance section of the book store. I've had it on my shelf for quite some time. I didn't expect much from the book because I had never heard of it, but dear God, it is awesome. I loved every page of it. It was filled with action, suspense, and some sexual tension. Hendee was able to capture and keep the reader's attention without having to resort to lots of sexual content. It was strictly a great vampire story (with lots of psychic ability content). I am pumped to read the rest of the series.

Memorable quotes:

"We don't really live forever, baby. We just cheat for a while." ~ Edward

"Maggie never did anything by accident." ~ Eleisha

"I took no pleasure in the fact that some mortal had to die so I could go on living." ~ Eleisha

"Guilt was a new emotion for me. I hated it." ~ Eleisha

"It's too bad undead can't cry." ~ Eleisha

"Mortals always use pretty euphemisms like 'caught in an obsession' to sugarcoat realities like madness." ~ Eleisha

"Trust me on this. My head isn't someplace you want to be." ~ Dominick to Wade

"If you're poor and strange, people call you mad. If you're rich and strange, they call you eccentric." ~ Eleisha

"You take mortals at face value and then put them into neat little categories so you won't have to deal with anyone." ~ Wade to Eleisha

Official summary: "Destined for danger ... Elena has faced countless challenges-escaping the Dark Dimension, defeating phantoms, discovering she's a Guardian. But nothing compares to choosing between the two loves of her life: Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Elena has reunited with Stefan, while Damon, hurt by the rejection, has become dark and unpredictable. Now Elena's torn between saving Damon's soul and staying true to Stefan. But before Elena can decide who her heart belongs to, Dalcrest College's campus is overrun with vampires determined to resurrect Klaus, the wicked Old One who will stop at nothing to destroy Elena-and everyone close to her. As Elena learns more about her destiny as a Guardian, a protector against evil on earth, she realizes that before she can defeat Klaus, she has to sacrifice someone close to her. Elena must decide how much -- and who -- she's willing to give up before it's too late." (http://www.epicreads.com)

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered for $12 from Walmart using a giftcard I got for my birthday

My commentary: I really loved this book. Really really loved it. I think the ghostwriter is doing an excellent job bringing the series back to where it should have been all along. It's dark and not as whimsical as the last few books that L.J. actually wrote. The only issue I have with it is them seeming to have an issue with Elena being a normal human. They just can't seem to leave her human. First she was human, then a vampire, then dead, then an angel, then human, then human with supernatural powers, then just human, now she's a guardian who will live forever. Seriously can't she just be human? She's also now got a connection to Damon where if he kills someone again, she'll die. What the hell is up with that?

Memorable quotes:

"Stefan didn't know, but he thought that being a werewolf was probably a lot less lonely than being a vampire. If you had a Pack."

"I like patrolling with you. It's almost like a romantic stroll, except for, you know, the possibility of being attacked by vampires." ~ Bonnie to Zander

"You might be wicked in theory, but your heart is so pure." ~ Katherine to Damon

"Love changes you. And it never fades, no matter how much you might want it to. Don't make the mistakes I've made, Damon. Don't fight love, whatever form it takes." ~ Katherine

"Let the record show that I tried to save you, and that you are the most infuriatingly stubborn person I've ever known." ~ Damon to Elena

"You should have learned by now that you can never ask a girl to give up all her secrets. And I'm full of secrets. Always." ~ Katherine to Damon